Concrete fence post



Dec. 11, 1951 c. w. BAILEY CONCRETE FENCE POST Filed Oct. 28, 195.0

l'mventor C A R l W. B A IL EY 3g g T (Ittomegs Patented Dec. 11, 1951 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONCRETE FENCE POST Carl W. Bailey, Concrete, Wash.

Application October 28, 1950, Serial No. 192,717

Claims.

My invention relates to a concrete fence post. More particularly, my invention relates to a reinforced, hollow concrete fence post, which is triangular and blunt cornered and is especially adapted for supporting barbed wire and the like. Wire securing members are positioned in a corner portion of the fence post.

Various attempts have been previously made to design a post, for supporting wir'e, made of concrete. A common fault in such posts has been excessive weight which not only makes the post too heavy for convenient use but also causes the selling price of the post to be quite high as the excess material adds to the cost of production. Attempts to reduce weight in concrete posts have often sacrificed needed strength. These posts have commonly had an uneconomical and structurally faulty shape; and those posts having reinforcing have often made poor use of the same. Concrete posts have strong competition in wood and steel posts; and if the concrete posts are not designed in an optimum manner, so as to be of comparable price, strength, life and convenience to use, they will enjoy little popularity. Other types of posts will be purchased in preference to poorly designed concrete posts. The concrete post must be of such construction that it may be economically manufactured in order that it may be sold at a competitive price.

Part and particle of the problem of designing a satisfactory, economical post is the devising of proper wire securing means. Requisites of such means include providing wire securing members which will firmly secure the wire in place and, at the same time, are of such design that the wire may be easily positioned therein. They must be conveniently incorporated in the post during manufacture.

The objects of my invention include: to provide a concrete post of improved design; to devise a concrete post which has the minimum of weight consistent with adequate strength and other consideration; to design a post which may be easily and economically manufactured from concrete asthe principal constituent; to provide a concrete post of optimum shape and construction in view of utilitarian and aesthetic considerations; t devise wire securing members in which wire may be easily engaged and which will hold the wire firmly in position; and to provide wire securing means which may be conveniently incorporated in a concrete post during manufacture.

Briefly, the objects are met by the following contruction: The post is elongated and has a uniform transverse cross-section in the form of a triangle having two long sides and one slightly shorter side and with the corner of the triangle being blunt forming corner surfaces. The post has a central opening of circular transverse cross-section, the opening extending and tapering slightly from the bottom of the post to a point spaced a short distance from the top.- A reinforcing rod is positioned between the opening and each. corner surface. A plurality of wire securing members is disposed along the corner surface between the two long sides. Each wire securing member has a face portion, a back portion, a top portion and a bottom portion, the face portion being positioned in the plane of the corner surface. The face portion has a diagonal opening therein which forms a considerable angle with the horizontal and'is of a width to pass the stands forming the usual barbed wire one at a time. The top and bottom portionsare curved and converge from the back to the face portion.

The-novel features that I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection Withthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a specific embodiment of my invention, the concrete post being shown in fragmentary form with its lower end positioned in the ground and supporting several lengths of barbed wire;

Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a wire securing member, with part of the face portion broken away 7 1' Figure 3 is a view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

securing the same in position before the concrete envelops these members; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary, perspective view of the form used in manufacturing the post.

Post body I0 is preferably of uniform cross- Figure 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of Fig-- section except for its top portion. The outline in transverse cross-section, as shown in Figure 4, is triangular, there being two iong sides l2 and M and one slightly shorter side if. The corners are blunted forming corner surfaces it which are substantially parallel to their opposed sides. For common use, optimum widths of the sides, assuming the corners are not blunted, are nine inches for sides l2 and M and eight and one-half inches for side [6. Corner surfaces l8 are approximately one and one-half inches wide. With central opening 2Q having a diameter of about two and three-quarters inches, these dimensions will give the post sufiicient strength with a minimum of weight. The overall length of the post, for use in the usual barbed wire enclosure, is generally about eighty inches with twenty-eight inches buried in the ground. With these dimensions, the weight of the post will be approximately 150 pounds, which has been found to be about a minimum weight for a concrete post of strong but inexpensive construction. The triangular shape is most important in view of these considerations as well as for convenience in securing wire to the post. The purpose of the long and short sides is to provide more strength in the direction that force is usually applied against the post by animals. If a longer post is desired, it is recommended that the girth should be increased by one inch if the upstanding portion is from six to eight feet and by two inches if the upstanding portion is from nine to twelve feet. The central opening in the post will not only lighten the same but actually strengthen it. The concrete mix recommended is a 1:2:3 cement to sand to gravel ratio unless all aggregate is cleaned in which case the sand and gravel may be increased by a half. Gravel is recommended to be of a size from one-quarter to one-half of an inch. Sand should be free of silt, sharp and of medium size. Faulty curing and dirty sand comprises the greatest fault in concrete failure. The posts should be preferably damp cured for twenty days before being stored in the open air. If quick setting cement is used, posts should be cured a minimum of ten days, otherwise the posts should be cured a minimum of twentyeight days.

To best withstand weathering, the top of the post should be ridged. In the preferred form, ridge 22 extends between and bisects the angle formed by long sides i2 and M. The ridged top together with the triangular shape and blunted corners present a pleasing appearance.

Reinforcing rods 24 are positioned between opening 29 and each corner surface I8 and are substantially equally spaced from opening 28, corner surface l8 and the adjacent sides. A three-eighths of an inch deformed bar is preferably used between long sides l2 and H and the other rods are one-quarter inch deformed bars.

A plurality of wire securing members 28, formed of rust proof metals such as aluminum or an alloy of manganese, are disposed along the corner surface between the long sides I2 and M. In use with barbed wire, the wires are commonly spaced twelve inches on center, in which case wire securing members 26 would be similarly spaced.

In manufacturing the concrete posts, a form is used such as is shown in Figure 8. Form 30 has side walls 32 and 3t and a wooden member 36 is interposed between them. Bottom end wall 38 has an opening lii' therein; and top end wall 42 is hingedly connected to side-wall 32. Side-wall 3% is hingedly connected to bottom member 36. The hinged walls provide means for readily separating the form when the concrete is set. The walls are formed to shape the proper contours in the post and the concrete is smoothed to form short side It. A vibrator should be used to settle the concrete while in fluid form.

Central opening 2% is formed by preferably a smooth, stiff cardboard core having circular wood end inserts as at 52. Core as has a slight taper of a fraction of an inch from the bottom to the top to permit removal of the same from the formed post. Opening Gil in bottom end wall 38 provides access to core 53. Reinforcing rods 2 are secured in their relative positions, before the concrete is poured. by wires 54. Wire securing members 23 are secured to the largest reinforcing rod 24 by wires 58. Blocking member 58, shown in Figures 5 and 6, is positioned in wire securing member 25 before form 39 is filled with concrete. Blocking member 58 prevents the concrete from filling the pocket formed by wire securing member 26. The blocking member also forms recesses Si} in the post proper, on either side of wire securing member 25, which are in effect a continuation of the pocket formed by member 25.

The devising of adequate wire securing means .in the concrete post is quite important. One virtue of the triangular shape with blunted corners is the convenient accommodation of a narrow recessed wire securing pocket in one of the corner portions. Any form of wire securing means which is attached to the concrete post after formation would be impractical, as contrasted with a wood post which may have wire secured to the same by staples. Wire securing member 28 has a face portion Iii which is preferably of the same width as corner surface l8 and which is positioned generally in the plane of the corner surface l8. Back portion 12 is parallel to face portion H1 and top portion 14 and bottom portion 16 join the face and back portions. Top and bottom portions are curved and converge from the back to the front. The pocket formed by these portions has a generally D-shaped outline with curved corners. Thus, wire enclosed in the pocket is not damaged by sharp projections. The wire maintains approximately the same position in the pocket for many years and sharp surfaces would wear through the galvanizing. Vertical web portions 18 join the outside of the top and bottom portions with face portion (0.

Wire securing member 25 has a diagonal opening 86 therein which forms a considerable angle with the horizontal, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. Diagonal opening is wide enough to pass one of the strands forming the usual barbed wire or the like but it is too narrow to pass the strands two at a time. Therefore, it is necessary to present the strands as is shown in Figure 3 at 82 in order to thread them through diagonal opening 80. At the same time the wire must be oriented to run in the direction of diagonal opening 80. When the wires are engaged in the pocket they are normally stretched taut and extend horizontally. There is little likelihood that the wires will ever accidentally drop out of the pocket because the wires normally are supported by bottom portion 16 and in order to come out the wires must be raised to the level of diagonal opening 30 and oriented to extend in the direction of diagonal.

opening 80, as well as be presented one strand behindanother as is shown at 82. The wires may.

be easily inserted or withdrawn manually however by this simple operation. Openings 84 are provided in web portions 18 to accommodate wires 56. I Wire securing members 26 may be simply incorporated into the post structure by securing them to the adjacent reinforcing rod 24 by wires 56 and then positioning them in form 30 by placing the face portion in in abutting relationship to wooden member 36. When the concrete is poured wire securing members 26 will be properly oriented; and secured in place. Blocking member 58 is positioned in the wires receiving pocket during pouring and it may be simply "removed after the post is taken out of the form.

Having described a specific embodiment of my invention, I wish to be understood as not limiting myself to the exact form shown but wish to claim all modifications within the fair scope of my invention.

Iclaim:

1. A concrete fence post, comprising: an' elongated concrete post body of substantially uniform transverse dimensions having throughout the most of its length an outline in transverse cross section in the form of a triangle with two long sides and one slightly shorter side, the corners of said triangle being blunt and forming corner surfaces of short width which are substantially parallel to their opposed sides, said body havingan opening therein of circular transverse cross section, said opening extending and tapering Slightly from the bottom of said body to a point spaced a short distance from the top, said opening being substantialy equally spaced from the three sides of said body; there being a reinforcing rod, between said opening and each of said corner surfaces, substantially equally spaced from said opening, the adjacent corner surface and the adjacent sides, the rod between the two long sides being larger than the other two rods; said body having a ridged top with the ridge running between and substantially bisecting the angle formed by said two long sides; a plurality of wire securing members disposed along the corner surface between said two long sides and spaced apart one from another, each wire securing member having a face portion, a back portion, a top portion and a bottom portion, said face portion being positioned in the plane of the adjacent corner surface and having a diagonal opening therein which forms a considerable angle with'the horizontal and which has a width of a size to pass the strands of the usual barbed wire one at a time, said back portion being substantially parallel to said face portion, and said top and bottom portions being curved and converging from said back to said face portion, and a Web portion connecting the outside of said top portion and said face portion and a web portion connecting the outside of said bottom portion and said face portion, said web portions lying in vertical planes; wires connecting said reinforcing rods at spaced intervals throughout the length of said post body, each of said web portions havsaid openings in said web portions and securing said web portions to the adjacent reinforcing rod.

2. A concrete fence post, comprising: an elongated concrete post body having throughout the most of its length an outline in transverse cross section in the form of a triangle with two ing an opening therein and wires running through long sides and one slightly shorter side, the corners of said triangle being blunt and forming corner surfaces of short width which are substantially parallel to their opposed side's; said body having an opening therein of circular transverse cross section, said opening extending and,

taperingslightly from the bottom of said body to a point spaced a short distance from the top, said opening being substintially equally spaced from the three sides of said body; there being a reinforcing rod, between said opening and each of said corner surfaces, substantially equally.

spaced from said opening, the adjacent corner surface and the adjacent sides, the rod between said two long sides being larger than the other two rods; said body having a ridged top with the ridge running between and substantially bisecting the angle formed bythe two long sides;

and a plurality of wire securing members disposed, along the corner surface between said two long sides and spaced apart one from another,

each wire securing member having a face por-. tion, a back portion, a top portion and a bottom,

portion, said face portion being positioned in the plane of the adjacent corner surface and having a diagonal opening therein which forms a considerable angle with the horizontal and which has a width of a size to pass the strands of the usual barbed wire one at a time, said back portion being substantially parallel to said face portion, and said top and bottom portions being curved and converging from said back to said face portion, and a web portion connecting the outside of said top portion and said'face portion and a web portion connecting the outside of said bottom portion and said face portion, said web portions lying in vertical planes.

3. A concrete fence post, comprising: an elongated concrete post body having an outline in transverse cross-section in the form of a triangle. the corners of said triangle being blunt and forming corner surfaces; said body having an opening therein of circular transverse crosssection, said opening extending and tapering slightly from the bottom of said body to a point spaced a short distance from the top, said opening being substantially equally spaced from the three sides of said body; there being a reinforcing rod, between said opening and each of said corner surfaces, substantially equally spaced from said opening, the adjacent corner surface and the adjacent sides; and a plurality of wire securing members disposed along one corner surface, each wire securing member having a face portion, a back portion, a top portion and a bottom portion. said face portion being positioned in the plane of the adjacent corner surface and having a diagonal opening therein which forms a considerable angle with the horizontal, said back portion being substantially parallel to said face portion, and said top and bottom portions being curved and converging from said back to said face portion.

4. A concrete fence post, comprising: an elongated concrete post body having an outline in transverse cross-section in the form of a triangle, said body having an opening therein of circular transverse cross section, said opening extending and tapering slightly from the bottom of said body to a point spaced a short distance from the top, said o ening being substantially equally spaced from the three sides of said body; there being a reinforcing rod, between said opening and each corner, substantially equally spaced from said opening and the adjacent sides; one of the corners of said body being blunt forming a corner surface substantially parallel to its opposed side; and a plurality of wire securing mem bers disposed along said corner surface and spaced apart one from another, each wire securing member having a face portion, a back portion, a top portion and a bottom portion, said face portion being positioned in the plane of said corner surface and having a diagonal opening therein which forms a considerable angle with the horizontal, said back portion being substantially parallel to said face portion, and said top and bottom portions being curved and converging from said back to said face portion.

5. A concrete fence post, comprising: an elongated concrete. post body having an outline in transverse cross-section in the form of a triangle; said body having an opening therein of considerable size extending from the bottom portion of said body to a point spaced a short distance from the top, said opening being substantially equally spaced from the three sides of blunt forming a corner surface substantiallyparallel to its opposed side; and a plurality of wire securing members disposed along said corner surface and spaced apart one from another, each wire securing member having a face portion, a back portion, a top portion and a bottom portion, said face portion being positioned in the plane of said corner surface and having a diagonal opening therein which forms a considerable angle with the horizontal and which has a width of a size to pass the strands of the usual barbed Wire one at a time, said top and bottom portions connecting said face and back portions.

CARL W. BAILEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,110,975 Vance i Sept. 15, 1914 l,131,416 Rader Mar. 9, 1915 

